99-640: Bethea is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Antoine Bethea (born 1984), professional American football safety Bill Bethea (born 1942), American college baseball coach Elvin Bethea (born 1946), former American football defensive end Erin Bethea (born 1982), American actress James Bethea (born 1965), American producer and television performer Larry Bethea (1956–1987), American football defensive lineman Preston Lang Bethea (1870–1944), American politician Rainey Bethea (1909–1936),
198-590: A 12–5 record and won the AFC South. The Titans' season ended with a Divisional Round 19–16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans traded away Brown after the season. In 2022, the Titans suffered their first losing season since 2015 with a 7–10 mark, losing each of their last seven games despite a 7–3 start. In the 2023 season, the Titans finished with a 6–11 record. Following the 2023 season, Vrabel
297-715: A 27–10 victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. He sacked quarterback Blaine Gabbert for a one-yard loss in the fourth quarter. On December 16, 2012, Bethea made five solo tackles and sacked quarterback Matt Schaub in the Colts' 29–17 loss at the Houston Texans in Week 15. He finished the 2012 season with 100 combined tackles (75 solo), seven passes defensed, and a career-high two sacks in 16 games and 16 starts. Bethea entered training camp slated as
396-505: A 28–24 loss to the San Diego Chargers . On January 28, 2008, it was reported that Bethea would be playing in the 2008 Pro Bowl . He was originally chosen as a second alternate and was needed after injuries to safeties Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders. Bethea and Sanders remained the starting safeties to begin the regular season. On November 2, 2008, Bethea recorded a season-high ten solo tackles during an 18–15 victory against
495-578: A 31–17 loss to the New Orleans Saints . On March 3, 2010, the Indianapolis Colts placed a first round, $ 2.51 million tender on Bethea. He held out of organized team activities and declined to sign their restricted free agent tender. On July 11, 2010, the Indianapolis Colts signed Bethea to a four-year, $ 27 million contract that includes an $ 8 million signing bonus. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer retained Bethea and Sanders
594-613: A 38–20 victory against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The following week, he collected a season-high seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception in the Colts' 33–14 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. In Week 8, Bethea made a season-high three pass deflections, five combined tackles, and an interception during a 31–7 victory against the Carolina Panthers . Bethea missed
693-419: A backup in the secondary collecting 13 total tackles. He would have a career-best 109 total tackles his sophomore year while seeing action as a starter in 10 of 11 games that year. That year, he had three games where he tallied 13 tackles and another game against Bethune-Cookman where he made 14 tackles. He ended that year also adding one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six pass deflections and
792-734: A blocked kick. He would record three interceptions his junior year, along with two sacks, four forced fumbles and eight pass deflections in 11 starts. Ending the year with 99 total tackles and two sacks, Bethea would earn All-Mid-Eastern Conference honors and selection to the American Urban Radio Network Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College All-American Team joining the likes of NFL greats such as former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans quarterback and NFL MVP Steve McNair and NFL tight end, Shannon Sharpe . He would earn these honors three years in
891-653: A career-high 17 combined tackles (ten solo) during a 42–28 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14. Bethea finished his last season with the Indianapolis Colts with a total of 110 combined tackles (80 solo), six pass deflections, an interception, and a sack in 16 games and 16 starts. Bethea became an unrestricted free agent in 2014 and drew interest from multiple teams, including the Detroit Lions , San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles , Green Bay Packers , and Kansas City Chiefs. On March 12, 2014,
990-481: A career-high five interceptions, and a sack in 15 games and six starts. Pro Football Focus gave Bethea an overall grade of 86.7, which was the 13th highest grade among all qualifying safeties in 2017. On January 2, 2018, head coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement and resigned as head coach of the Cardinals. The Arizona Cardinals hired Steve Wilks who became Bethea's sixth head coach in as many seasons. He
1089-586: A forced fumble, and a touchdown in 16 games and 16 starts. On January 19, 2015, Bethea was selected to replace Kam Chancellor in the 2015 Pro Bowl. Chancellor was unable to play due to this participation in the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks . Bethea and Eric Reid entered training camp slated as the starting safeties by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio . The San Francisco 49ers' new head coach Jim Tomsula officially named Bethea and Reid
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#17327721213531188-537: A league-worst 2–14 season, and Jack Pardee was fired as head coach after a 1–9 start and was succeeded by Jeff Fisher . The following two seasons, the Oilers drafted quarterback Steve McNair and running back Eddie George respectively, who became franchise players over the next several years. The Oilers respectively went 7–9 and 8–8 in their final two seasons in Houston. After the 1995 season, Bud Adams announced
1287-430: A loss, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 18 passes defensed and seven interceptions. He also returned two recoveries for a touchdown: one coming on a blocked kick and the other on a fumble recovery, both returned 26 yards. Bethea was projected to be a third or fourth round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the sixth best free safety prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com and
1386-774: A pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Trent Green in the Colts' 23–8 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wildcard Game. The following week, he collected six combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass attempt by Steve McNair during a 15–6 win at the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round. The Indianapolis Colts went on to defeat the New England Patriots 38–34 in
1485-473: A pick. The following week, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (ten solo) and a pass deflection in the Cardinals' 33–0 loss at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. He was surpassed on the depth chart by rookie first round pick Budda Baker after Tyvon Branch was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Bethea remained the backup strong safety behind Baker for the remainder of
1584-732: A professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee . The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The Tennessee Titans play their home games at Nissan Stadium and are building a new stadium which will be completed in 2027. Originally known as the Houston Oilers , the team was founded in 1959 by Houston oil tycoon Bud Adams , who remained
1683-492: A remarkable beginning for the Titans, as they made a dramatic run to Super Bowl XXXIV. Led by head coach Jeff Fisher and quarterback Steve McNair, the team finished the regular season with a 13–3 record. Their playoff journey included the famous "Music City Miracle" victory over the Buffalo Bills, where a last-second lateral play resulted in a kickoff return touchdown. The Titans reached the Super Bowl but narrowly lost to
1782-506: A reputation for delivering big hits over the middle. His performance placed him in line as a possible rookie of the year candidate. He finished his rookie season with 90 combined tackles (66 solo), four pass deflections, and an interception in 14 games and 14 starts. The Indianapolis Colts finished first in the AFC South with a 12–4 record. On January 6, 2007, Bethea started in his first career playoff game and recorded three solo tackles,
1881-504: A row. Bethea would continue his success in his senior season, collecting 88 tackles, six passes defensed and a career-high four interceptions in 10 games. This would mark the third straight year he would lead his team in tackles. His senior season performance would earn him 1st-Team All-America honors from the NFL Draft Report. As a three-year starter at Howard, Bethea made 309 stops that included 187 solo tackles and twelve for
1980-416: A season-high 12 combined tackles (11 solo) and broke up a pass during a 24–17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens . Bethea started all 16 games in 2016 recording 110 combined tackles (96 solo), three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts. Pro Football Focus gave Bethea an overall grade of 72.5 and ranked 66th among the 88 qualifying safeties in 2016. On January 1, 2017,
2079-547: A season-high 12 combined tackles (eight solo) and broke up a pass in the Colts' 21–14 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars . On November 5, 2006, Bethea recorded nine combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Tom Brady during a 27–20 victory at the New England Patriots in Week 9. He was inactive during the Colts' Week 13 loss at the Tennessee Titans due to an injury. The following week, he aggravated his shoulder injury and subsequently missed
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#17327721213532178-735: A season-high 12 combined tackles (six solo) in the Colts' 28–24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs . On November 6, 2011, Bethea recorded a season-high eight solo tackles and assisted on three more tackles during their 31–7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. He finished the 2011 season with a career-high 139 combined tackles (80 solo), seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and 16 starts. On January 3, 2012, Indianapolis Colts' owner Jim Irsay fired general manager Chris Polian and vice chairman Bill Polian . On January 17, 2012, new general manager Ryan Grigson decided to fire head coach Jim Caldwell after
2277-533: A season-high 15 combined tackles (11 solo) during a 38–35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. He finished with 107 combined tackles (77 solo), five pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble, and half a sack in 16 games and 16 starts. Head coach Jim Caldwell named Bethea the starting free safety to begin the regular season, along with strong safety Melvin Bullitt . In Week 5, Bethea collected
2376-426: A season-high eight combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by Drew Brees during a 27–24 overtime victory at the New Orleans Saints . On December 20, 2014, Bethea recorded a season-high tying eight combined tackles, two pass deflections, and returned an interception by Philip Rivers for a 49-yard touchdown during a 38–35 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers in Week 16. His touchdown occurred in
2475-422: A season-high nine combined tackles (four solo) during a 20–17 win against the Houston Texans in Week 9. He finished the 2009 season with 95 combined tackles (70 solo), five pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts. On December 29, 2009, it was announced that Bethea was voted to the 2010 Pro Bowl , marking the second selection of his career. The Indianapolis Colts finished first in
2574-496: A small, navy blue disc on the back of their helmets with McNair's white number nine inside of it. In 2013 , the team wore the navy blue jerseys twice in honor of their 15th anniversary as the Titans. The Titans wore white jerseys for all games in 2014 , for the exceptions of two preseason home games, in which the team wore their light Titans blue jerseys, and a game against the Houston Texans on October 26, 2014, in which
2673-414: A starter beginning in 2012 was marked by inconsistent play and numerous injuries, which led to his retirement shortly after departing from the team after the 2014 season after a four-year career. After posting a league-worst 2–14 record during the 2014 season, their worst since moving to Tennessee, the Titans drafted quarterback Marcus Mariota in the 2015 NFL Draft with the second overall pick, who became
2772-470: A torn pectoral muscle. Bethea finished the 2015 season with a total of 44 combined tackles (32 solo), two passes defensed, and an interception in seven games and seven starts. On January 4, 2016, the San Francisco 49ers fired head coach Jim Tomsula after they finished 2015 with a 5–11 record. The San Francisco 49ers hired former Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Chip Kelly as their head coach for
2871-474: A winning record between 1981 and 1987, a drought that ended when the Houston Oilers acquired quarterback Warren Moon in 1987. With Moon and Hall of Fame offensive linemen Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews , the Houston Oilers made six consecutive playoff appearances from 1987 to 1993. During the 1992–93 NFL playoffs , the Houston Oilers earned the dubious distinction of being on the losing end of what
2970-652: A winning season in the next six seasons, but in 1967 , a 9–4–1 record returned the team to the AFL championship game where it lost 40–7 to the Oakland Raiders . The Houston Oilers moved into the Astrodome after the season, becoming the first professional football team to move into a domed stadium. After failing to qualify for the AFL playoffs in 1968, the Oilers qualified the following season in 1969, but were eliminated in
3069-531: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Antoine Bethea Antoine Akeem Bethea ( / b ə ˈ θ eɪ / ; born July 27, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Howard Bison and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of
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3168-533: Is followed by the playing of " Folsom Prison Blues " by Johnny Cash . After every Titans first down at Nissan Stadium, the jumbotron plays a scene from the movie 300 , where the Spartans chant after King Leonidas asks, "What is your profession?" Titans fans simultaneously perform the chant three times, "OOH! OOH! OOH!" The chant debuted in video game form in Madden NFL 22 . In 1999, Adams established
3267-859: Is in Saint Thomas Sports Park, a 31-acre site at the MetroCenter complex in Nashville. The Tennessee Titans played in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, losing 23–16 to the St. Louis Rams . Led by Steve McNair and Eddie George , the Tennessee Titans made the playoffs in all but one season from 1999 to 2003 , but only twice in the next 13 years. From 2016 to 2021 , the Tennessee Titans had six consecutive winning seasons and four playoff appearances. The Tennessee Titans are
3366-649: Is the raccoon mascot of the Titans, debuting in the team's inaugural preseason home game in August 1999 against the Atlanta Falcons . The raccoon is the state animal of Tennessee. T-Rac appears at every game in Nissan Stadium and performs at community events in Tennessee. During every home game's 4th quarter, the stadium plays a video of "office linebacker" Terry Tate , performed by Lester Speight , shouting his catchphrase, "the pain train's coming"! The phrase
3465-644: The 2006 NFL draft . Bethea also played for the San Francisco 49ers , Arizona Cardinals , and New York Giants . He was selected for the Pro Bowl three times and won Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Colts, beating the Chicago Bears . Bethea attended Howard University , where he majored in administration of justice, and played for the Howard Bison football team. He started 31 of 37 games at safety. His freshman year, he saw action in five games as
3564-612: The Miami Dolphins and a Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys . It wore all white exclusively in its last year as the Tennessee Oilers. When the team was renamed the Titans in 1999, it introduced a new logo that was a circle with three stars representing the state's Grand Divisions , containing a large "T" with a trail of flames similar to a comet. The uniforms consisted of white helmets, red trim, and either navy or white jerseys. White pants were worn with
3663-539: The New England Patriots in Week 9. The following week, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (six solo) in the Colts' 24–20 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. He finished the season with 101 combined tackles (74 solo), four pass deflections, and two interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts. On January 12, 2009, head coach Tony Dungy retired ending Bethea's three-year tenure under him. Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell retained Bethea as
3762-480: The Pittsburgh Steelers , Baltimore Ravens , and Buffalo Bills . The rivalry with the Jaguars began in 1995 when the Titans were the Houston Oilers. The rivalry was heated in the late 1990s and early 2000s due to the success of both franchises at the time, including a season in which Jacksonville went 14–2 and Tennessee went 13–3. That season, all three of Jacksonville's losses, including the playoffs, came against
3861-464: The San Francisco 49ers signed Bethea to a four-year, $ 21 million contract with $ 15.02 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $ 5.25 million. Head coach Jim Harbaugh named Bethea the starting strong safety to start the 2014 season, alongside free safety Eric Reid . He started in the San Francisco 49ers' season-opener at the Dallas Cowboys and recorded six solo tackles and a pass deflection in their 28–17 victory. In Week 10, Bethea collected
3960-500: The de facto starter at strong safety. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky officially named Bethea the starting strong safety to start the regular season, opposite free safety LaRon Landry . Bethea started in the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener against the Oakland Raiders and recorded 11 combined tackles (six solo), a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Terrelle Pryor in their 21–17 victory. This marked his first interception since 2010. On December 8, 2013, Bethea collected
4059-409: The surname Bethea . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bethea&oldid=1224154034 " Category : Surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
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4158-410: The 2016 season. This became Bethea's fourth different coach in the last four seasons. Head coach Chip Kelly retained Bethea and Eric Reid as the starting safety tandem to start the regular season. On September 18, 2016, Bethea recorded nine combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Cam Newton in a 45–27 loss at the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. In Week 4, he collected
4257-399: The 2017 season, the Titans moved on from head coach Mike Mularkey. The Tennessee Titans entered a new era in the late 2010s with the hiring of head coach Mike Vrabel in 2018. Prominent players drafted during the 2019 season included defensive end Jeffery Simmons and wide receiver A.J. Brown , both of whom would later have prolific careers with the team. Under Vrabel's leadership, during
4356-541: The 2017 season, the Titans returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2008 and won their first playoff game since 2003, overcoming a 21–3 halftime deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs to win 22–21 before being eliminated in the divisional round. The Titans saw their season end in the Divisional Round with a 35–14 loss to the New England Patriots. Despite their postseason success in
4455-537: The 2019 season, Mariota was benched in favor of offseason acquisition Ryan Tannehill after a 2–4 start and with the emergence running back Derrick Henry , who led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, the team returned to prominence. The Titans reached the AFC Championship Game during the 2019 season and have been regular playoff contenders since then. Mariota, Walker and Casey all departed after
4554-541: The 2019 season. Derrick Henry's historic rushing performances, including a 2,000-yard season in 2020, have solidified the Tennessee Titans as a formidable force in the NFL. Henry was part of a 2020 campaign that saw the Titans win the AFC South with an 11–5 record. The Titans' season ended with a 20–13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round. In the 2021 season, the Titans finished with
4653-535: The 2023 season, the Steelers lead the all-time series 49–32. The Cowboys previously lead the series against the Oilers 18–13. During the Titans' first season in its new stadium, the end zone sections became known as the Flame Pit and fans began wearing head wear resembling flames. Called "Flameheads", the costumes became prevalent during the Titans' successful years of the early 2000s. Flames are tied to
4752-483: The 49ers announced the firing of head coach Chip Kelly after the team finished with a 2–14 record. On March 7, 2017, the 49ers granted Bethea's request to be released. On March 9, 2017, the Arizona Cardinals signed Bethea to a three-year, $ 12.75 million contract] that includes $ 4 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $ 2 million. Throughout training camp, Bethea competed against Tyvon Branch to be
4851-565: The AFC Championship to reach Super Bowl XLI . On February 4, 2007, Bethea started in Super Bowl XLI and made four combined tackles as they defeated the Chicago Bears 29–17. Bethea entered training camp slated as the starting free safety. Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks retained Bethea and Bob Sanders as the starting safeties to begin the regular season. On September 30, 2007, Bethea collected seven solo tackles during
4950-616: The AFC South with a 14–2 record, clinching a first round bye and home-field advantage. On January 16, 2010, Bethea recorded three combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Joe Flacco during a 20–3 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round. The Colts went on to defeat the New York Jets 30–17 in the AFC Championship to reach Super Bowl XLIV . On February 7, 2010, Bethea started in Super Bowl XLIV and made four solo tackles during
5049-507: The Bills sideline. Adams and Bills owner Ralph Wilson had maintained a friendly rivalry and were the last living original AFL owners at that time. As of the 2023 season, the Titans lead the all-time series 30–20. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Titans and the Ravens began a rivalry, which flared up when former Titans quarterback Steve McNair went to the Ravens. From the realignment of
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#17327721213535148-615: The Bills. In 1993, the Comeback , and the January 8, 2000 Music City Miracle , were two iconic moments in Oilers/Titans history have occurred against the Bills. The Bills and Titans were featured in an AFL legacy game in 2009 as part of festivities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the AFL's foundation. Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $ 250,000 by the league following the 41–17 Titans win in which he obscenely gestured toward
5247-454: The Colts finished with a 2–14 record. Head coach Chuck Pagano retained Bethea as the Colts' starting free safety to begin the regular season, along with strong safety Tom Zbikowski . He started in the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener at the Chicago Bears and recorded a season-high nine solo tackles and two pass deflections in their 41–21 loss. On November 8, 2012, he collected seven solo tackles and made his first career solo sack during
5346-418: The Colts' Week 15 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals . The Indianapolis Colts' safeties sustained numerous injuries throughout the regular season, including strong safety Bob Sanders, who sustained a knee injury and was limited to four games. Veteran Mike Doss tore his ACL in Week 7 and missed the last nine games after being placed on injured reserve. Bethea started the first ten games and began developing
5445-702: The Houston Oilers relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, playing at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee , for one season while waiting for a new stadium to be constructed. The team moved to Nashville's Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998 . For those two seasons, the team was known as the Tennessee Oilers , but changed its name to the Tennessee Titans for the 1999 season , when they moved into Adelphia Coliseum, now known as Nissan Stadium. The Tennessee Titans' training facility
5544-576: The NFL's divisions in 2002 to the 2020–21 NFL playoffs , the Titans have faced off against Baltimore five times in the postseason. As of the 2023 season, the Ravens lead the all-time series 14–13. After the move to the AFC Central division, the Titans developed a rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were the Oilers' primary divisional rival and by the 2020s, the Titans had played them more than any other NFL team. As of
5643-1019: The NFL. On July 30, 2013, Bethea's longtime college girlfriend, Samantha Romantini gave birth to a baby girl they named Siani. On June 28, 2014, Bethea married Romantini at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C. The pair have since had two sons, born in 2016 and 2019. He attended Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia where he was a three-year letterman in football and also lettered in basketball , where he earned all-area and All-conference honors in his senior year. In December 2013, Bethea posed for PETA 's anti-fur campaign. In 2024, Bethea joined 51 other HBCU football alumni in endorsing Kamala Harris 's campaign for president . Tennessee Titans National Football League ( 1970 –present) The Tennessee Titans are
5742-419: The Oilers wore blue helmets; the helmets were silver from 1966 to 1971 and white from 1975 to 1998. From 1997 to 1998, when it was known as the Tennessee Oilers, the team had an alternate logo that combined elements of the flag of Tennessee with the derrick. The team also wore its white uniforms during home games. In its two years as the Tennessee Oilers, the team wore its colored jerseys for road games against
5841-486: The St. Louis Rams, falling one yard short of a potential game-tying touchdown. In the years following their Super Bowl appearance, the Tennessee Titans experienced mixed success. They reached the playoffs several times in the early 2000s, with standout performances from players like running back Eddie George and defensive end Jevon Kearse. However, the team struggled with consistency and faced multiple rebuilding phases. Following
5940-535: The Titans and the Buffalo Bills began the 2009 NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame Game. Played at Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium on August 9, 2009, the game was nationally televised on NBC . The Titans defeated the Bills, 21–18. In honor of the AFL's 50th anniversary, the Titans wore Oilers' uniforms for the game. In 2009, the team honored former quarterback Steve McNair by placing
6039-486: The Titans claimed the AFC South championship over the Colts due to tie-breaking measures. As of the 2023 season, the Colts lead the all-time series 37–22. While in the AFL, the Houston Oilers was in the same division as the Buffalo Bills, but were moved to the AFC Central division following the NFL-AFL merger. Their rivalry remained strong into the 1980s and 1990s with Warren Moon leading the Oilers against Jim Kelly and
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#17327721213536138-444: The Titans to a league best 13–3 record and a playoff appearance before being defeated in the divisional round of the playoffs to the Baltimore Ravens. In 2009, following a 0–6 start under Collins, Young returned as starting quarterback and led the Titans to winning eight of their final ten games and narrowly missing the playoffs. The 2009 season was also notable as it was the season in which second-year running back Chris Johnson became
6237-403: The Titans wore seven different uniform combinations, pairing the white jersey with all three sets of pants (white, Titans blue, navy blue), the navy jersey with the white and navy pants, and the Titans blue jersey with navy and Titans blue pants. In a game against the Atlanta Falcons on October 7, 2007, the Titans paired the navy blue jersey with the Titans blue pants for the first time. They wore
6336-427: The Titans wore their navy blue uniforms. Beginning in 2015 , navy blue became the team's primary home jersey color again, marking the first time since 2007 that the Titans wore navy as their primary home jersey. The light Titans blue jersey, which was the team's primary jersey color from 2008 to 2014, became the team's alternate jersey for a second time. On April 4, 2018, the Titans debuted new uniforms that retain
6435-404: The Titans' franchise quarterback for the next four seasons. Although the Titans finished with another league worst record of 3–13 during the 2015 season, Mariota along with multi-Pro Bowl teammates such as tight end Delanie Walker , offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and defensive tackle/defensive end Jurrell Casey , led the Titans to three consecutive winning records of 9–7 from 2016 to 2018. During
6534-495: The Titans, who played that year in Super Bowl XXXIV. The rivalry cooled when both teams experienced misfortune in the late 2000s to early 2010s, but both teams ended lengthy playoff droughts in 2017 . As of the 2023 season, the Titans lead the all-time series 35–24. The Titans’ rivalry with the Houston Texans is more prevalent in Houston due to the Titans having previously played in the city. The Titans dominated
6633-516: The color palette of navy blue, Titans blue and white, with new red and silver elements being introduced. The new helmets are navy blue with one silver sword-shaped stripe through the center and metallic gray face masks. On July 23, 2023, the Titans unveiled the throwback powder blue Oilers uniforms. The Titans share rivalries with their three AFC South opponents, Jacksonville Jaguars , Houston Texans , and Indianapolis Colts . They have historical rivalries with former divisional opponents such as
6732-473: The departures of George and McNair in 2003 and 2005, respectively, the Titans drafted quarterback Vince Young in 2006, who led the team to a playoff berth in 2007. Despite being named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and being a two-time Pro Bowl selection, Young's tenure was marred by injuries, inconsistency and clashes with Jeff Fisher. In 2008, Young was benched in favor of veteran Kerry Collins , who led
6831-487: The divisional round by the Oakland Raiders in a 56–7 blowout. Following the season, the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970, with the Houston Oilers being assigned to the new American Football Conference (AFC)'s Central division . The Houston Oilers failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs from 1970 to 1977, and posted one winning season in 1975 . In 1978, the Houston Oilers selected running back Earl Campbell with
6930-603: The first overall pick in the 1978 NFL draft . Campbell led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances as a wildcard berth from 1978 to 1980. Campbell led the NFL in rushing yards and won the Offensive Player of the Year Award in each of those three seasons. The Oilers made it to the AFC championships in 1978 and 1979, but were defeated both times by the Pittsburgh Steelers . The Houston Oilers failed to post
7029-482: The football in the 31–26 loss. In week 9 on Monday night football against the Dallas Cowboys , Bethea intercepted a pass from Dak Prescott on the first play of the game and recovered a fumble forced by teammate Jabrill Peppers on Randall Cobb in the 37–18 loss. On March 18, 2020, the Giants informed Bethea that they would not exercise his contract option, making him a free agent. On January 7, 2021, Bethea announced his retirement, after playing for 14 seasons in
7128-446: The heat, except in the 2005 , 2006 and 2008 seasons . In 2003, the Titans introduced an alternate jersey that was light Titans blue with navy outside shoulders and sleeves, which was worn with blue pants. Until 2007, they wore the jersey twice in each regular-season game. They always wore the Titans blue jersey in their annual divisional game against the Houston Texans and for other selected home games. Their selection in those games
7227-512: The last person to be publicly executed in the United States Ryan Bethea (born 1967), American football player Solomon H. Bethea (1852–1909), United States federal judge Andy C. Bethea (born 1964), American author See also [ edit ] Tristram Bethea House , also known as Pleasant Ridge, is a historic plantation house near Camden, Alabama [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
7326-401: The last three games of the regular season due to a knee injury (Weeks 15–17). He finished his second season with 65 combined tackles (43 solo), eight pass deflections, and four interceptions in 13 games and 13 starts. The Indianapolis Colts finished atop their division with a 12–4 record. On January 13, 2008, Bethea started in the AFC Divisional Round and recorded seven combined tackles during
7425-408: The move to Tennessee. A Nashville stadium for the Tennessee Oilers would not be ready until 1999 , so the Tennessee Oilers planned to play two seasons at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee . The team was based in Nashville and commuted to Memphis, Tennessee for games. In Memphis, Tennessee some of the smallest NFL crowds since the 1950s attended games. In the first seven games of
7524-400: The navy blue jerseys with the light blue pants against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The team paired the Titans blue jerseys with the white pants for the first time in a home game against the Indianapolis Colts on November 14, 2013. In 2008, the Titans blue jerseys became the regular home uniforms, with the navy blue jerseys being relegated to alternate status but not worn until 2013. In 2009,
7623-578: The navy jerseys, and navy pants with the white jerseys. On both the navy and white jerseys, the outside shoulders and sleeves were light Titans blue. In a game against the Washington Redskins on October 15, 2006, the Titans wore their navy jerseys with navy pants for the first time. Since 2000, the Titans have worn their dark uniforms at home. They have worn white at home during daytime contests in September home games to gain an advantage with
7722-485: The only NFL team to have two players rush for 2,000 yards in a season, Chris Johnson ( 2009 ) and Derrick Henry ( 2020 ). After failed attempts to start an NFL expansion team in Houston, Adams founded the Houston Oilers in 1959, as one of the eight charter members of the upstart American Football League (AFL) and a member of its Eastern Division. Beginning play at Jeppesen Stadium at the University of Houston ,
7821-639: The organization because in Greek Mythology , the Titan Prometheus stole fire and gave it to humanity. The Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders represent the team in the NFL. They perform at every home game in Nissan Stadium and regularly do acts with the team's mascot T-Rac . They have 28 members with four captains. They perform a variety of dance moves and high-risk stunts. They attend community events in Middle Tennessee . T-Rac
7920-650: The owner until his death in 2013. The team began play in 1960 in Houston , Texas, as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). The Houston Oilers won the first two AFL championships along with four division titles, and joined the NFL as part of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The Houston Oilers made playoff appearances from 1978 to 1980 and from 1987 to 1993 , with Hall of Famers Earl Campbell and Warren Moon , respectively. In 1997 ,
8019-479: The rivalry in the early 2000s, but the series has since evened out in the 2010s. As of the 2023 season, the Titans lead the all-time series 23–21. Since the creation of the AFC South, the Titans and the Colts have been division rivals. In 2011, the Titans swept the Colts after 11 straight losses. In 2018, the Colts defeated the Titans in the last game of the regular season to clinch the final Wild Card spot, eliminating Tennessee from playoff contention. In 2020,
8118-401: The road with the white jerseys from 1972 to 1994, with the exception of the 1980 season , and selected games in the mid-1980s, when the team wore an all-white road combination. For selected games in 1973 and 1974, and again from 1981 through 1984, the Oilers wore their white jerseys at home. Coach Jeff Fisher discarded the light blue pants in 1995. From 1960 to about 1965 and from 1972 to 1974,
8217-523: The road. During the 1998 offseason, Adams appointed an advisory committee to decide on a new name for the Tennessee Oilers to coincide with the opening of their new stadium, which was renamed Nissan Stadium in 2015. On November 14, 1998, the new name of Tennessee Titans was unveiled. The name is a nod to how Nashville is nicknamed the "Athens of the South" for its classical architecture and large number of higher learning institutions. The 1999 season marked
8316-410: The season, there were crowds of less than 27,000, and two games drew less than 18,000 people. For the 1998 season, the Tennessee Oilers played their home games at the stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. That year, the team was in playoff contention until losing their last two games for another 8–8 record. The Tennessee Oilers were 6–2 in Nashville, Tennessee and 2–6 on
8415-543: The season. On December 24, 2017, Bethea made three solo tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted two pass attempts by Eli Manning in a 23–0 win against the New York Giants in Week 16. On December 26, 2017, the Arizona Cardinals placed Bethea on injured reserve after he tore his pectoral a muscle in Week 16. He completed the 2017 season with 57 combined tackles (47 solo), nine pass deflections,
8514-446: The second quarter and marked the first score of his career. On December 24, 2014, it was announced that Bethea was selected to be an alternate for the 2015 Pro Bowl . On December 28, 2014, it was announced that the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Jim Harbaugh decided to mutually part ways after the 2014 season . He finished his first season in San Francisco with 86 combined tackles (72 solo), ten pass deflections, four interceptions,
8613-425: The sixth player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season and broke Marshall Faulk 's record for most single season yards from scrimmage. Johnson made three Pro Bowl appearances with the Titans before departing after the 2013 season. Following the 2010 season, Young, Collins and Fisher all departed, and quarterback Jake Locker was drafted in 2011. After spending his rookie season as a backup, Locker's career as
8712-407: The starters entering the regular season. In Week 5, Bethea collected a season-high ten combined tackles (six solo) and a pass deflection during a 30–27 loss at the New York Giants . On October 22, 2015, Bethea made five combined tackles before exiting a 20–3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter with an injury. The following day, the San Francisco 49ers placed him on injured reserve with
8811-441: The starting free safety against Mike Doss and Matt Giordano . Head coach Tony Dungy named Bethea the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety Bob Sanders . He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener at the New York Giants and recorded six combined tackles and a pass deflection in their 26–21 victory. In Week 3, he collected
8910-438: The starting safety duo to begin the 2010 regular season. Bethea started in the Indianapolis Colts season-opener at the Houston Texans and collected a 13 combined tackles (eight solo) and a pass deflection in their 34–24 loss. On November 28, 2010, Bethea made six combined tackles and was credited with half a sack on Philip Rivers in the Colts' 36–14 loss to the San Diego Chargers in Week 12. The following week, he recorded
9009-410: The starting strong safety, along with free safety Bob Sanders. On September 21, 2009, Bethea collected a season-high eight solo tackles, a pass deflection, and an intercepted a pass by Tarvaris Jackson during a 27–23 victory at the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. In Week 7, he tied his season-high of eight solo tackles as the Colts' routed the St. Louis Rams 42–6. On November 8, 2009, Bethea collected
9108-399: The starting strong safety. Head coach Bruce Arians named him the backup free safety behind Tyvon Branch to start the regular season. On October 15, 2017, Bethea recorded five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Jameis Winston during a 38–33 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. The interception marked his third consecutive game with
9207-551: The team moved to Rice Stadium at Rice University in 1965. Led by quarterback George Blanda , who played with the team from 1960 to 1966, the Houston Oilers made it to each of the first three AFL championship games. The Oilers won the first two AFL championships, both against the San Diego Chargers , but lost the 1962 American Football League Championship Game 20–17 to the Dallas Texans , now Kansas City Chiefs , after double overtime. The Houston Oilers failed to post
9306-423: The years, this logo remained the same until the team was renamed the Titans in 1999. The logo was originally called "Ol' Riggy", but this name was dropped before the 1974 season . The Oilers' uniforms consisted of blue or white jerseys, red trim, and white pants. From 1966 to 1971, the pants with both the blue and white jerseys were silver to match the color of the helmets. The team commonly wore light blue pants on
9405-473: Was fired as head coach. Former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan was hired to be the team's head coach prior to the 2024 season. Prominent departures that occurred during or after the 2023 season included Henry, Tannehill and two-time First-Team All-Pro safety Kevin Byard . When the team debuted as the Houston Oilers in 1960, its logo was an oil rig derrick . Except for minor color changes throughout
9504-414: Was named the Cardinals starting free safety, starting in all 16 games. He finished the season with a team-leading 120 tackles, four pass deflections, and a career-high three sacks. On March 8, 2019, Bethea was released by the Cardinals. On March 14, 2019, Bethea signed with the New York Giants . In week 8 against the Detroit Lions , Bethea forced a fumble on wide receiver Kenny Golladay and recovered
9603-411: Was ranked the 17th best safety in the draft by ESPN Scouts Inc. The Indianapolis Colts selected Bethea in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft . Bethea was the 21st safety drafted in 2006. On July 30, 2006, the Indianapolis Colts signed Bethea to a four-year, $ 1.67 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $ 79,420. Throughout training camp, Bethea competed to be
9702-477: Was representative of the organization's ties to Houston and the AFL. On November 19, 2006, the Titans introduced light Titans blue pants in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles . In December 2006, they combined the Titans blue pants with the Titans blue jersey to create an all Titans blue uniform. Vince Young appeared in this uniform in the cover art for Madden NFL 08 . During the 2006 season,
9801-476: Was then the biggest comeback in NFL history when in the divisional round, the Houston Oilers' third-quarter 32-point lead against the Buffalo Bills turned into a 41–38 loss in overtime. This remains the largest blown lead in playoff history. After the 1993 season, Moon was traded to the Minnesota Vikings and Munchak retired to begin a coaching career. The following season, the Oilers finished with
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